Welder&#39;s foot protector



Dec. 23, 1941. c. H. REAM WELDERS FOOT PROTECTOR Filed March 25, 1941 CLZZReam IN VEN TOR.

Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED smrs "TENT" emu-'- 4- Claims.

This invention relates to a protector for the footwear of welders, burners, chemists and others.

In the process of welding, burning, etc., fiying sparks, chemicals and the like often burn the trousers cuff or shoe laces of the wearer, or may enter the shoes, burning the sock or the flesh. This invention aims to provide a novel guard, the use of which will avoid such contingencies.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for securing the guard in place either temporarily, or with considerable permanence, novel means being provided for holding the trousers of the wearer folded.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 shows in side elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention, in place for use;

Fig. 2 shows the article in perspective.

The numeral I marks a shoe. A trousers leg is shown at 2 and has a cuff 3. The trousers leg 2 is folded transversely along a longitudinal line 4, to compact the trousers leg about a shin of the wearer.

The numeral 5 designates a flexible, troughshaped guard, made of any desired material, such as fire-proofed leather, asbestos, or the like. The guard 5 fits on top of the shoe I and extends upwardly on the trousers leg 2, to a place well above the cuff 3. The guard 5 extends downwardly on the sides of the shoe l and backwardly on the lower part of the trousers leg 2, as far as desired.

The upper end of the guard 5 is folded inwardly and downwardly to form a socket 6, coextensive in length with the upper edge of the guard 5. The inner wall of the socket 6 is secured to the outer wall thereof, by any preferred number of securing elements I, it being desirable that some or all of the securing elements be located at the rear end of the guard.

Into the socket 6 is removably threaded a resilient, U-shaped clamp 8, preferably made of metal, and having outstanding ends 9 facilitating the mounting of the upper end of the guard on the trousers leg 2. The clamp 8 exercises several functions. It serves to keep the trousers leg folded along the line 4. It aids in giving to the upper part of the guard 5 a contour corresponding to the cross section of the leg of the wearer. It serves to hold the upper end of the socket 6 on the leg of the wearer. In connection with short and simple jobs, no holding a means other than the clamp 8 may be resorted to.

If the job is of considerable length, recourse may be had to an ankle strap H], the members of which are secured to the guard 5 immediately below the lower edge of the inner wall of the socket 5. The free ends of the members of the strap I!) may be connected by a buckle I2, of any desired construction. The strap l0 preferably engages the trousers leg 2 a little above the cuff 3 and draws the trousers leg tightly around the ankle of the wearer.

The ends of a strap [4 are attached by securing elements IE to the side portions of the guard 5, a buckle l6 being interposed in the strap. The strap l4 engages the instep of the shoe I, a little in advance of the heel of the shoe.

It is to be noted that the guard 5 extends upwardly, far enough so that no sparks can catch in the cuff 3 at the front and at the forward portions of the sides of the cuff. The shoe lace holes are covered, and, in general, protection is Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: a

1. A footwear and legwear protector comprising a guard shaped to fit on an article of footwear, and a resilient, U-shaped ankle clamp assembled with the upper portion of the guard, the clamp constituting a retainer for the guard, the guard being long enough to dispose the clamp above the article of footwear, whereby the clamp will form, also, a means for retaining a trousers leg in folded condition.

2. A footwear and legwear protector comprising a guard shaped to fit on an article of footwear and provided at its upper end with a transverse socket, and a resilient, U-shaped ankle clamp mounted in the socket and extended out of the socket at its rear end, the clamp constituting a retainer for the guard, the guard being long enough to dispose the clamp above the article of footwear, whereby the clamp will form, also, a means for retaining a trousers leg in folded condition.

3. A footwear and legwear protector constructed as set forth in claim 1, in combination with an ankle strap assembled with the guard, an instep strap assembled with the guard, and. buckles interposed in the straps.

4. A footwear and legwear protector constructed as set forth in claim ;2, in combination with means for fastening the guard removably about the ankle of a wearer, and means for fastening the guard removably about the instep of a wearer.

CHARLES H. REAM. 

